Economics at Princeton very tough!?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>Haha Rabban, SO TRUE.
Finals are right now, and the majority of anyone you see out is either:
1. Rushing to a review session
2. Turning something in/picking something up
3. Going to/from firestone (the library)
4. And, god forbid they arent somehow preoccupied with finals related stuff, theyre STILL stressed, lol.
Again though, this just makes it all the funner, in a sadistic way. You have to roll with the punches, you know?</p>

<p>Okay, then ORFE and math track:
We don't have regular operations research, just operations research AND financial engineering...which means that the department really focuses a lot more on the analytical stochastic side of modeling rather than anything more economics-ey. you program and do high level math a lot in orfe, though in essence, it just means that you are more prepared for technical analysis of stocks, rather than fundamental analysis...either way, it's a random walk, no?</p>

<p>At the beginning of this semester, I dipped into both econ 302 and 312, which are econometrics and math track econometrics respectively. I decided on 312, but thought i should dabble with 302 because i wasnt sure if my stats knowledge (havent touched the subject since ap stats junior year of hs) was sufficient. Turns out, they both do the same thing, with proofs, same equations, etc, but with one intense difference. 312 applies a lot more calculus, and deriving of formulas, where the proofs in 302 seemed more plug and chug...and hence simpler. Generally, this is the overall concensus on the ddivergence in math track-non math track. </p>

<p>One side note: One thing i am displeased with is the registrar's scheduling of math track/non math track econ. Each related pair, like 302-312, or 310-300, are scheduled for THE SAME lecture slot. Therefore, u cannot attend both...grrr...that was an issue, i must say.</p>

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<p>Oh, and they are the same major, except (I kid you not) if you complete all 3 math track courses, you get a "Star" or "note" or something on your transcript.</p>

<p>Well, there is other practicalities too, such as that in order to enter any finance courses (which are the coolest classes at princeton, i.e. financial investments, options futures and financial derivatives, portfolio theory...and on) you do need at least 310, which is microeconomic theory math track</p>

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<p>wow sounds like fun! Thanks! =)</p>

<p>Now, under economics at Princeton. My conjecture is the first two years will be GE classes which will give a broad view of economics, and then junior and senior year you pick your "concentrations?" </p>

<p>Because economics is such a broad range of topics!</p>

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<p>You're right.
The normal track (the path taken by, I'd say, 70% of econ students), is:
Frosh Year, Eco 100 & 101 (intro to macro and micro)
Soph Year, 300/301/302 or 310/311/312 (as discussed)
Junior and on, Departmentals</p>

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<p>thanks a lot inopa and rabban! very helpful~ i look forward to meeting you guys this fall!</p>

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<p>compared to UC Berkeley Haas School vs. Princeton... which one you think is more cut-throat?</p>

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<p>Can't say, I would honestly guess that Princeton is as cut-throat as top 10% of UC Berk. I am math track econ by the way, the classes are much harder--not so much the material, but just the diversity in the econ dept. People in math-track are often ppl who want to do Ph.D.'s and kids strong at math; many in non-math-track are people who want to do the econ without the math, big difference can't put it in words at 6 AM</p>

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<p>whoa! Now I'm a bit scared haha.
Well I was just wondering...I'm really not a math person at all but I do want to learn about business. Can a non-math person take some economics courses? If so which ones...Econ 100 & 101? Also, could I join the Princeton Investment Club? Or do you have to be a math/econ major to join?</p>

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<p>Non math person can take basic econ courses...btw, when I say math, I don't mean you need "math major" math, just engineer math. And even if you don't have that, you can take intro econ, intro micro/macro...If you're starting DEFINITELY take ECO 100, its basic, and usually taught by EXCELLENT EXCELLENT professors, rosen, reinhardt. and take ECO 100 if blinder is teaching it. </p>

<p>Princeton Investment Club is in the making, not made yet, you don't have to be math/econ to join.</p>

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<p>Paco's right, the Princeton investment club is technically starting this Spring semester. This Princeton Investment Club is a forum to learn about the Market and debate current market topics. I'm friends with the guys in the econ department who are putting it all together, and they are purportedly going to have portfolio simulation competitions, with the top gainers having dinners with New York Wall Street honchos, in addition to Princeton Community events, like workshops for students to learn financial basics, and more.</p>

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<p>it's hard... just get a 2.0 and go!!!</p>

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<p>How much 'high school' math translates to economics at princeton? Is it mostly just algebra that you use or do you use trig as well? Or is it new stuff?</p>

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<p>Calc 3 and Linear Algebra. Calc-based probability. all stuff you should've had in high school.</p>

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<p>is it a real problem if i didn't take AP calc? or is it reasonably easy to catch up during the first semester?</p>

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<p>and you need calc three and linear algebra for economics 100 and 101? Not just for the most advanced economics classes?</p>

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<p>you can't possibly need calculus 3 for an ec 100/101 class. that sounds ridiculous.</p>

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<p>i don't think so. the announcement does not list any prequisites for the econ 100/1 classes.</p>

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<p>I hate math!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <em>random, sorry</em></p>

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<p>ernie, i feel you bro...math is not my best friend</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Furthermore, are there any other colleges that offer this ORFE major, because from inopa's entry, gosh it sounds interesting!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, late in the College Admissions process I found ORFE, and decided this was what I wanted to do, and subsequently re-did my college search (to an extent). I was pleasantly surprised that most of the schools on my list had an OR program or something similar. I'm sure Princeton's is more focused on the financial aspect, but in other school, they allowed you to specialize in financial engineering after taking your OR pre-reqs. Cornell seemed to have a strong established program, and Columbia is in the processes of starting up a Financial Engineering program (that you have to apply to after a couple years there). Rice's financial engineering equivalent is in the Applied Mathematics department. I believe MIT also has a program in this field. You don't need to put all your eggs in one basket or necessarily go to Wharton or Princeton to get this program, which is probably the best precursor to an I-banking or Consulting job I've seen.</p>